Bowmanville walk puts men in women's shoes

Upcoming event raises awareness, funds for victims of domestic abuse

Walk A Mile

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

BOWMANVILLE -- Bethesda House director Jaki MacKinnon presented This Week reporter Brad Andrews with the high heels he will wear when he takes part in the Walk-A-Mile-In-Her-Shoes event June 14. The walk is an annual event held by Bethesda House to raise awareness about domestic violence against women. June 2, 2014.

Walk A Mile

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

BOWMANVILLE -- Bethesda House director Jaki MacKinnon presented This Week reporter Brad Andrews with the high heels he will wear when he takes part in the Walk-A-Mile-In-Her-Shoes event June 14. The walk is an annual event held by Bethesda House to raise awareness about domestic violence against women. June 2, 2014.

Walk A Mile

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

BOWMANVILLE -- Bethesda House director Jaki MacKinnon presented This Week reporter Brad Andrews with the high heels he will wear when he takes part in the Walk-A-Mile-In-Her-Shoes event June 14. The walk is an annual event held by Bethesda House to raise awareness about domestic violence against women. June 2, 2014.

CLARINGTON -- They are the right size and the toes pinch just a little more than expected.

Besides that, the size 14 heels look pretty good. They're a bright red and have a bit of a shine to them.

Hopefully they are flashy enough to bring attention to the cause the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event is meant to.

On June 14, reporter Brad Andrews will be joining other men in wearing high heels and walking through downtown Bowmanville as part of an annual event devoted to helping victims of domestic abuse.

"It's a combination public awareness and fundraising event," says Jaki MacKinnon, executive director of Bethesda House, the organization behind the event. "It's bringing awareness to the community that domestic abuse is still an issue." According to Ms. MacKinnon, Durham Regional Police respond to an average 13 calls a day involving domestic abuse, or one call every two hours. The annual walk also helps raise money to cover the shortfall between what funding Bethesda gets from the Province and the costs for the services it provides. Besides offering a shelter, the organization provides individual and group counselling, school programs, assistance in finding housing and support for medical needs.

"We do everything we can to help women lead safer lives," says Ms. MacKinnon.

She says they average between 60 to 80 walkers a year and that more men who support the cause don't take part because they want to avoid ridicule. Yet wearing the heels isn't the only way to take part. "The idea is to symbolically support the cause and the shoes just happen to be the focal point," says Ms. MacKinnon.

Participants don't have to wear high heels; they can wear any other kinds of women’s shoes if they want, even flats. If being able to walk in the heels is an issue for the unpractised, Ms. MacKinnon says people can carry them or bring a cane, a walker or even someone to lean onto if they want.

Supporters can also just raise money to help with the fundraising aspect and the only fee participants face is $10 for shoe rentals, just in case a man can't find a size 16 heel.

The walk takes place June 14 beginning at 98 King St. W. with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and the walk starting at 11 a.m. More information can be found at www.bethesdahouse.ca.